By Elizabeth Mwai

The war on malaria suffered following a new trend of malaria vector resistance to two trusted drugs.

Malaria bearing mosquitoes have developed resistance to pyrethroids used in insecticide treated nets.

At the same time, Artemisinin, a first line drug is now losing efficacy.

On Sunday, Medicines for Malaria Venture Medical Director Stephen Duparc said new drugs for malaria could only be achieved in about 10 years.

"The process of developing malaria drugs is not easy and take longer. Therefore, we must be very cautious with the available drugs," said Duparc.

In an interview with The Standard, Duparc said there are 50 other molecules under study and three alternative Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) yet to be registered.

This comes when a single dose to treat malaria already tested elsewhere in Africa has been introduced in Kenya to curb resistance.

The drug, Arco, distributed by Medisel Kenya, was described by scientists attending a symposium in Nairobi as crucial in allowing patient’s complete treatment.

The medicine, manufactured by Kunming Pharmaceutical Corp and registered in 16 countries, is widely used in Uganda and now Sudan to curb underdose by patients, which could trigger a disaster.

Dr Zulfiqarali Premji of Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Tanzania, said although no resistance to ACTs drug is yet been reported in East Africa, it should be used cautiously.

"This single dose is highly efficacious and East Africans must consider use of different Artemisinin combination as key to delaying resistance," said Premji.

Premji said as countries move to incorporate ACTs into home-based care, there is need to be more vigilant on completion of treatment.

He also urged Kenya and other countries to stop over reliance on anti-malarials to treat fever, as it will worsen resistance.

The International Vector Control Consortium chief executive officer Janet Hemingway said pyrethroids used to treat mosquito nets are losing efficacy due to their use in agricultural activities.

Hemingway said the resistance is especially high in West and South African countries.

"If we get resistance, we may lose bed nets as tools for malaria control," Dr Hemingway said.

He said new pesticides also applicable in nets should be developed.

Dr Andrew Kitua of World Health Organisation/Tropical drugs Research said countries must put in place strategies to ensure resistance occurs at a much later stage.

Kitua called for stronger legislations to deal with misuse and counterfeits that accelerate resistance.